Keonjhar: In a tragic mishap, a Kanwariya devotee was killed and two others sustained critical injuries in a collision between their van and a truck in Joda area of Odisha’s Keonjhar district on Monday.
As per preliminary information, the incident took place on National Highway 520 No. under the jurisdiction of Champua police station early in the morning. The identity of the deceased is yet to be ascertained.
Sources said a group of Kanwariyas, popularly known as Bol Bam devotees, had come from Rourkela Sector 2 to the Murga Mahadev Temple in Keonjhar for the Jal Abhisekh on the second Monday of the holy Shravan month.
After completion of the ritual, the devotees were proceeding to Ghatagaon for darshan at the Maa Tarini Temple when a speeding truck rammed into their van. The truck then reportedly sped away.
The collision was so severe that one of the devotees died on the spot. Two others were critically injured and immediately sent to hospital for treatment.
On getting information, a police team visited the spot and launched investigation. The body was seized for postmortem and further details are awaited. Efforts are on to trace the driver of the truck and apprehend him.